Man faces sentencing in federal drug case

Posted: Thursday, September 27, 2007

A man charged in connection with a drug bust in February will be sentenced today in federal court.

Michael Marion Cuellar was one of 24 people indicted in an alleged drug ring headed by brothers Sitthiphone Phengsengkham, 29, and Itthison Phengsengkham, 35. The brothers were each convicted of conspiracy to commit a drug offense and money laundering conspiracy on Aug. 21.

Cuellar pleaded guilty to one count of simple possession of cocaine Aug. 7, according to court records.

On Oct. 26, 2004, a state narcotics search warrant was executed at 4717 S. Rusk St. Cuellar was located in the basement, lying on a couch.

Cuellar was in possession of a plastic bag containing suspected ecstasy, court records show. Also in Cuellar's possession was a vial containing cocaine and a small silver spoon. Methamphetamine was also found in Cuellar's bedroom.

Cuellar faces a sentence of up to a year in prison and a fine no greater than $100,000 and possible restitution costs. He will have to serve up to a year of supervised release following his prison term.